Jump starting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A handheld device for jump starting a vehicle engine includes a rechargeable lithium ion battery pack and a microcontroller. The lithium ion battery is coupled to a power output port of the device through a FET smart switch actuated by the microcontroller. A vehicle battery isolation sensor connected in circuit with positive and negative polarity outputs detects the presence of a vehicle battery connected between the positive and negative polarity outputs. A reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit with the positive and negative polarity outputs detects the polarity of a vehicle battery connected between the positive and negative polarity outputs, such that the microcontroller will enable power to be delivered from the lithium ion power pack to the output port only when a good battery is connected to the output port and only when the battery is connected with proper polarity of positive and negative terminals.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/691,884 filed Aug. 31, 2017, which is acontinuation of Ser. No. 14/619,655 filed Feb. 11, 2015 (now U.S. Pat.No. 9,770,992 issued on Sep. 26, 2017), which is a division of Ser. No.14/325,938 filed Jul. 8, 2014 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,007,015 issued onApr. 14, 2015), which is a continuation of PCT/US2014/045434 filed Jul.3, 2014, and this application is also a continuation-in-part (CIP) ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/989,005 filed May 24, 2018, which isa continuation of PCT/US2017/017289 filed Feb. 10, 2017, which claimspriority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/294,067 filed Feb. 11,2016, claims priority to PCT/US2016/024680 filed Mar. 29, 2016, is acontinuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/137,626 filed on Apr. 25, 2016, and claims priority from U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/424,297 filed Nov. 18, 2016, of which allof the above applications are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for jump-starting avehicle having a depleted or discharged vehicle battery. Prior artdevices are known, which provide either a pair of electrical connectorcables that connect a fully-charged battery of another vehicle to theengine start circuit of the depleted or discharge vehicle battery, orportable booster devices which include a fully-charged battery which canbe connected in circuit with the vehicle's engine starter through a pairof cables.

Problems with the prior art arose when either the jumper terminals orclamps of the cables were inadvertently brought into contact with eachother while the other ends were connected to a charged battery, or whenthe positive and negative terminals were connected to the oppositepolarity terminals in the vehicle to be jumped, thereby causing a shortcircuit resulting in sparking and potential damage to batteries and/orbodily injury.

Various attempts to eliminate these problems have been made in the priorart. U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,054 issued Apr. 3, 2001, discloses a batterybooster pack that is polarity sensitive and can detect proper andimproper connections before providing a path for electric current flow.The device uses a set of LEDs connected to optical couplers oriented bya control circuit. The control circuit controls a solenoid assemblycontrolling the path of power current. The control circuit causes powercurrent to flow through the solenoid assembly only if the points ofcontact of booster cable clamp connections have been properly made.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,632,103 issued Oct. 14, 2003, discloses an adaptivebooster cable connected with two pairs of clips, wherein the two pairsof clips are respectively attached to two batteries to transmit powerfrom one battery to the other battery. The adaptive booster cableincludes a polarity detecting unit connected to each clip, a switchingunit and a current detecting unit both provided between the two pairs ofclips. After the polarity of each clip is sensed by the polaritydetecting unit, the switching unit generates a proper connection betweenthe two batteries. Therefore, the positive and negative terminals of thetwo batteries are correctly connected based on the detected result ofthe polarity detecting unit.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,493,021 issued Jul. 23, 2013, discloses apparatus thatmonitors the voltage of the battery of a vehicle to be jump started andthe current delivered by the jump starter batteries to determine if aproper connection has been established and to provide fault monitoring.Only if the proper polarity is detected can the system operate. Thevoltage is monitored to determine open circuit, disconnected conductiveclamps, shunt cable fault, and solenoid fault conditions. The currentthrough the shunt cable is monitored to determine if there is a batteryexplosion risk, and for excessive current conditions presenting anoverheating condition, which may result in fire. The system includes aninternal battery to provide the power to the battery of the vehicle tobe jump started. Once the vehicle is started, the unit automaticallyelectrically disconnects from the vehicle's battery.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,189,359 issued Feb. 23, 1993, discloses a jumper cabledevice having two bridge rectifiers for developing a reference voltage,a four-input decoder for determining which terminals are to be connectedbased on a comparison of the voltage at each of the four terminals tothe reference voltage, and a pair of relays for effecting the correctconnection depending on the determination of the decoder. No connectionwill be made unless only one terminal of each battery has a highervoltage than the reference voltage, indicating “positive” terminals, andone has a lower voltage than the reference voltage, indicating“negative” terminals, and that, therefore, the two high voltageterminals may be connected and the two lower voltage terminals may beconnected. Current flows once the appropriate relay device is closed.The relay device is preferably a MOSFET combined with a series array ofphotodiodes that develop MOSFET gate-closing potential when the decoderoutput causes an LED to light.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,795,182 issued Aug. 18, 1998, discloses a polarityindependent set of battery jumper cables for jumping a first battery toa second battery. The apparatus includes a relative polarity detectorfor detecting whether two batteries are configured cross or parallel. Athree-position high current capacity crossbar pivot switch is responsiveto the relative polarity detector for automatically connecting the plusterminals of the two batteries together and the minus terminals of thetwo batteries together regardless of whether the configuration detectedis cross or parallel, and an undercurrent detector and a delay circuitfor returning the device to its ready and unconnected state after thedevice has been disconnected from one of the batteries. The crossbarpivot switch includes two pairs of contacts, and a pivot arm that pivotsabout two separate points to ensure full electrical contact between thepairs of contacts. The invention can also be used to produce a batterycharger that may be connected to a battery without regard to thepolarity of the battery.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,492 issued Jul. 17, 2001, discloses a car batteryjumper cable for accurately coupling an effective power source to afailed or not charged battery, which includes a relay switching circuitconnected to the power source and the battery by two current conductorpairs. First and second voltage polarity recognition circuits arerespectively connected to the power source and the battery by arespective voltage conductor pair to recognize the polarity of the powersource and the battery. A logic recognition circuit produces a controlsignal subject to the polarity of the power source and the battery, anda driving circuit controlled by the control signal from the logicrecognition circuit drives the relay switching circuit, enabling the twopoles of the power source to be accurately coupled to the two poles ofthe battery.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,635,817 issued Jun. 3, 1997, discloses a vehicle batterycharging device that includes a control housing having cables includinga current limiting device to prevent exceeding of a predeterminedmaximum charging current of about 40 to 60 amps. The control housingincludes a polarity detecting device to verify the correct polarity ofthe connection of the terminals of the two batteries and to electricallydisconnect the two batteries if there is an incorrect polarity.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,199,024 issued Jun. 12, 2012, discloses a safety circuitin a low-voltage connecting system that leaves the two low-voltagesystems disconnected until it determines that it is safe to make aconnection. When the safety circuit determines that no unsafe conditionsexist and that it is safe to connect the two low-voltage systems, thesafety circuit may connect the two systems by way of a “soft start” thatprovides a connection between the two systems over a period of time thatreduces or prevents inductive voltage spikes on one or more of thelow-voltage systems. When one of the low-voltage systems has acompletely-discharged battery incorporated into it, a method is used fordetection of proper polarity of the connections between the low-voltagesystems. The polarity of the discharged battery is determined by passingone or more test currents through it and determining whether acorresponding voltage rise is observed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,793,185 issued Aug. 11, 1998, discloses a hand-held jumpstarter having control components and circuits to prevent overchargingand incorrect connection to batteries.

While the prior art attempted solutions to the abovementioned problemsas discussed above, each of the prior art solutions suffers from othershortcomings, either in complexity, cost or potential for malfunction.Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for further improvements tovehicle jump start devices.

Further, there exists a portable vehicle battery jump start apparatus asdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,007,015 to Nook et al. The apparatusutilizes a lithium ion battery pack. In this type of apparatus, thereexists a need to maximize conductivity from the battery pack to thevehicle battery of the vehicle being jump started.

For successful car jump-starts, there are two main factors dictating theresults. The first factor is the amount of power provided by the lithiumion battery pack, and the second factor is the maximum conductivity. Youneed both factors to have the best chance to jump-start big engines. Onefactor without the other factor is not enough.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, apparatus is provided forjump starting a vehicle engine, including: an internal power supply; anoutput port having positive and negative polarity outputs; a vehiclebattery isolation sensor connected in circuit with said positive andnegative polarity outputs, configured to detect presence of a vehiclebattery connected between said positive and negative polarity outputs; areverse polarity sensor connected in circuit with said positive andnegative polarity outputs, configured to detect polarity of a vehiclebattery connected between said positive and negative polarity outputs; apower FET switch connected between said internal power supply and saidoutput port; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signalsfrom said vehicle isolation sensor and said reverse polarity sensor, andto provide an output signal to said power FET switch, such that saidpower FET switch is turned on to connect said internal power supply tosaid output port in response to signals from said sensors indicating thepresence of a vehicle battery at said output port and proper polarityconnection of positive and negative terminals of said vehicle batterywith said positive and negative polarity outputs.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the internal powersupply is a rechargeable lithium ion battery pack.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a jumper cabledevice is provided, having a plug configured to plug into an output portof a handheld battery charger booster device having an internal powersupply; a pair of cables integrated with the plug at one respective endthereof; said pair of cables being configured to be separately connectedto terminals of a battery at another respective end thereof.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a battery device,for example, a battery connector, battery connector arrangement, orbattery conductor assembly for use in a device for jump starting avehicle, and a device for jump starting a vehicle comprising the batteryconnector device.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having at leastone battery conductor connected to a terminal of the battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having at leastone battery conductor or cable connected to a battery tab of thebattery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having a positiveconductor and a negative conductor connected to the battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having a positiveconductor plate and/or a negative conductor plate connected to thebattery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having a positiveconductor plate and/or a negative conductor plate connected to thebattery, and a positive cable connected to the positive conductor plateand/or a negative cable connected to the negative conductor plate.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having a positivebattery conductor connected to a positive terminal of the battery and/ora negative battery conductor connected to a negative terminal of thebattery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having a positivebattery conductor connected to a positive terminal contact of thebattery and/or a negative battery conductor connected to a negativeterminal contact of the battery, the battery conductors being solderedto the respective terminals of the battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having a positivebattery conductor connected to a positive terminal of the battery and/ora negative battery conductor connected to a negative terminal contact ofthe battery, and a relay connected to one of the battery conductors ofthe battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having a positivebattery conductor connected to a positive terminal contact of thebattery and/or a negative battery conductor connected to a negativeterminal contact of the battery, and a relay connected to the negativebattery conductor.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having a positivebattery conductor connected to a positive terminal contact of thebattery and/or a negative battery conductor connected to a negativeterminal contact of the battery, and a relay connected to the negativebattery conductor.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having a positivebattery conductor connected to a positive terminal contact of thebattery and/or a negative battery conductor connected to a negativeterminal contact of the battery, and multiple relays connected to thenegative battery conductor.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a batteryconnector device comprising or consisting of a battery having a positivebattery conductor connected to a positive terminal contact of thebattery and/or a negative battery conductor connected to a negativeterminal contact of the battery, and a positive cable connected to thepositive battery conductor.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the output of the jumpstarting apparatus to the vehicle battery is provided by the connectionbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the positiveterminal of the vehicle battery and the connection between the negativebattery terminal connector and the negative terminal of the vehiclebattery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the positive batteryterminal connector is a positive battery clamp releasably connectable tothe positive terminal of the vehicle battery, and wherein the negativebattery terminal connector is a negative battery clamp releasablyconnectable to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the positive batteryterminal connector is a positive ring terminal connected to an end ofthe positive battery cable and configured to connect with a positivebattery clamp connectable to the positive terminal of the vehiclebattery or directly to the positive terminal itself of the vehiclebattery, and wherein the negative battery terminal connector is anegative ring terminal connected to an end of the negative battery cableand configured to connect with a negative battery clamp connectable tothe negative terminal of the vehicle battery or directly to the negativeterminal itself of the vehicle battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the lithium ion batterycomprises a battery pack of multiple lithium ion batteries.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the power switch is a FETswitch.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the power switch is an FETswitch, and wherein the FET switch comprises a plurality of FETs inparallel.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the vehicle isolationsensor and reverse polarity sensor comprise optically coupled isolatorphototransistors.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, further comprising a plurality ofpower diodes coupled between the output of the jump starting apparatusto the vehicle battery and the internal power supply to preventback-charging of said internal power supply from an electrical systemconnected to said output port.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, further comprising a temperaturesensor configured to detect temperature of said internal power supplyand to provide a temperature signal to said microcontroller.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, further comprising a voltagemeasurement circuit configured to measure output voltage of saidinternal power supply and to provide a voltage measurement signal tosaid microcontroller.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, further comprising a voltageregulator configured to convert output voltage of said internal powersupply to a voltage level appropriate to provide operating power tointernal components of the apparatus.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, further comprising a manualoverride switch configured to activate a manual override mode to enablea user to connect jump start power to said output port when said vehiclebattery isolation sensor is unable to detect presence of a vehiclebattery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, further comprising a manualoverride switch configured to activate a manual override mode to enablea user to connect jump start power to said output port when said vehiclebattery isolation sensor is unable to detect presence of a vehiclebattery, wherein said microcontroller is configured to detect actuationof said manual override switch for at least a predetermined period oftime before activation of said manual override mode.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the positive battery cableand negative battery cable together form a jumper cable devicecomprising a plug connected to one of the cables and configured to pluginto an output port on the battery jump starting apparatus.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the positive battery cableand negative battery cable together form a jumper cable devicecomprising a plug connected to one of the cables and configured to pluginto an output port on the battery jump starting apparatus, wherein saidoutput port and said plug are dimensioned so that the plug will fit intothe output port only in one specific orientation.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,further comprising a separate tab connected to the positive tab of theat least one cell of the rechargeable battery to extend a length of thepositive tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,further comprising a separate tab connected to the positive tab of theat least one cell of the rechargeable battery to extend a length of thepositive tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery,wherein the separate tab is connected to the positive tab of the atleast one battery cell of the rechargeable battery, and wherein theseparate tab wraps around and connects to the conductor of the positivecable.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,wherein the positive tab wraps around and connects to the conductor ofthe positive cable.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,wherein the negative tab wraps around the negative conductor bar toelectrically connect the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery to the negative conductor bar.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,wherein the conductor of the positive cable is soldered to the positivetab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery and thenegative terminal conductor bar is soldered to the negative tab of theat least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,wherein the rechargeable battery is rectangular-shaped, and the negativeterminal conductor bar is L-shaped and wraps around a respective cornerof the rechargeable battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,wherein the positive tab and the negative tab of the at least onebattery cell of the rechargeable battery extend from opposite sides ofthe rechargeable battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,wherein the positive tab and negative tab of the at least one batterycell of the rechargeable battery extend along opposite edges along awidth of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,further comprising a separate tab connected to the positive tab of theat least one cell of the rechargeable battery to extend a length of thepositive tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery,wherein the separate tab has a same width as the positive tab of the atleast one battery cell of the rechargeable battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,further comprising a separate tab connected to the positive tab of theat least one cell of the rechargeable battery to extend a length of thepositive tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery,wherein the separate tab overlaps the positive tab of the at least onebattery cell of the rechargeable battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,further comprising a separate tab connected to the positive tab of theat least one cell of the rechargeable battery to extend a length of thepositive tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery,further comprising another separate tab connected to the negative tab ofthe at least one cell of the rechargeable battery to extend a length ofthe negative tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery.

The presently described subject matter is directed to a jump startingapparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with apositive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising orconsisting of an internal power supply; a positive battery cable havinga positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having anegative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensorconnected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolationsensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connectedbetween the positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect apolarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and toprovide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal andthe negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected withthe positive battery terminal connector and the negative batteryterminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal powersupply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehiclebattery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals fromthe vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and toprovide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switchis turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to thevehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating thepresence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive batteryterminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and aproper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negativeterminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminalconnector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on whensignals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehiclebattery connected between the positive battery terminal connector andthe negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarityconnection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of thevehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and thenegative battery terminal connector, wherein the internal power supplycomprises a rechargeable battery, wherein the rechargeable batterycomprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negativetab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to thepositive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeablebattery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of therechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar,further comprising a separate tab connected to the positive tab of theat least one cell of the rechargeable battery to extend a length of thepositive tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery,further comprising another separate tab connected to the negative tab ofthe at least one cell of the rechargeable battery to extend a length ofthe negative tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery,wherein the another separate tab wraps more than one time around thenegative conductor bar to enhance the electrical connection between thenegative conductor bar and the negative tab of the at least one batterycell of the rechargeable battery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a handheld vehicle battery boostapparatus in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic circuit diagrams of an example embodiment of ahandheld vehicle battery boost apparatus in accordance with an aspect ofthe invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handheld jump starter booster devicein accordance with one example embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a jumper cable usable with the handheld jumpstarter booster device in accordance with another aspect of theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the battery jump starting device with thebattery terminal clamps un-deployed.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the battery jump starting deviceshown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end perspective view of the battery jump starting deviceshown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the battery jump starting deviceshown in FIG. 5, however, with the battery terminal clamps deployed.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a battery connector devicecontained within the battery jump starting device shown in FIG. 5,however, with the negative cable not yet installed.

FIG. 10 is a top planer view of the battery connector device shown inFIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the battery connector device shownin FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is an end elevational view of the battery connector device shownin FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the battery connector device shown inFIG. 9, however, the negative cable in now connected to the batteryconnector device.

FIG. 14 is a view perspective view of the battery connector device shownin FIG. 9, however, with a diode connector installed on the positivecable.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the battery connector device connectedto other components or parts of the battery jump starting device.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the battery assembly of the batteryconnector device shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 17 is a front perspective view of another battery connector devicefor the battery jump starting device.

FIG. 18 is a detailed view of the positive cable connection with therelay printed circuit board prior to being soldered together.

FIG. 19 is a detailed view of the positive cable connection with therelay printed circuit board after being soldered together.

FIG. 20 is a front perspective view of the battery connector deviceshown in FIG. 17 prior to connection with the positive cable andnegative cable.

FIG. 21 is a partial top planar view of the battery assembly of thebattery connector device shown in FIG. 20 showing the positive terminalconductor sheet in an unwound condition.

FIG. 22 is an end perspective view showing the positive terminalconductor shown in FIG. 21 with the conductor end of the positive cablepositioned on the positive terminal conductor just prior to winding thepositive terminal conductor around the conductor end of the positivecable.

FIG. 23 is an end perspective view showing the positive terminalconductor shown in FIG. 22 partially wound around the conductor end ofthe positive cable.

FIG. 24 is an end perspective view of the positive terminal conductorshown in FIG. 22 fully wound around the conductor end of the positivecable.

FIG. 25 is a side perspective view showing the positive terminalconductor fully wound around and soldered to the conductor end of thepositive cable.

FIG. 26 is an opposite end perspective view of the positive terminalconductor fully wound around and soldered to the end of the positivecable.

FIG. 27 is a perspective view of the diode connector installed betweenoverlapping sections of the positive cable.

FIG. 28 is a perspective view of a Schottky diode used in the diodeconnector.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the diode connector insulated with ashrink wrap sleeve.

FIG. 30 is a graphical illustration showing a load test of the batteryconnection shown in FIGS. 9-14.

FIG. 31 is a graphical illustration showing a load test of the batteryconnection shown in FIGS. 17-29.

FIG. 32 is a front view of a further battery connector device for thebattery jump starting device.

FIG. 33 is a planar view of the battery connector device comprising aplurality of battery cells having separate tab and conductors (e.g.plate conductors) prior to assembly.

FIG. 34 is a planar view of the battery connector device comprisingbattery cells being prepared with separate tabs for lengthening thetabs.

FIG. 35 is a front view of the battery connector device comprising theplurality of battery cells having separate tab and conductors shown inFIG. 33, after assembly.

FIG. 36 is a elevational view of the battery connector device comprisingthe battery cell assembly shown in FIG. 35, after folding the batterycells on top of each other.

FIG. 37 is an end perspective view of the battery connector deviceshowing the separate tab wrapped or wound around an exposed conductorend of the positive cable, and soldered together.

FIG. 38 is an opposite end perspective view of the battery connectordevice showing a negative battery tab wrapped or wound around thenegative terminal conductor plate and welded and/or soldered together.

FIG. 39 is a perspective view of the battery connector device showingthe flat separate tab connected to the positive battery tab andextending outwardly prior to connection with the conductive end of thepositive cable.

FIG. 40 is a side view of the temperature sensor assembly with wires andconnector.

FIG. 41 is a perspective view of the diode circuit board assembled orconnected or spliced inline into the positive cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a vehicle jump startingapparatus or a handheld battery booster according to one aspect of theinvention. At the heart of the handheld battery booster is a lithiumpolymer battery pack 32, which stores sufficient energy to jump start avehicle engine served by a conventional 12 volt lead-acid or valveregulated lead-acid battery. In one example embodiment, a high-surgelithium polymer battery pack includes three 3.7V, 2666 mAh lithiumpolymer batteries in a 351P configuration. The resulting battery packprovides 11.1V, 2666 Ah (8000 Ah at 3.7V, 29.6 Wh). Continuous dischargecurrent is 25 C (or 200 amps), and burst discharge current is 50 C (or400 amps). The maximum charging current of the battery pack is 8000 mA(8 amps).

A programmable microcontroller unit (MCU) 1 receives various inputs andproduces informational as well as control outputs. The programmable MCU1 further provides flexibility to the system by allowing updates infunctionality and system parameters, without requiring any change inhardware. According to one example embodiment, an 8 bit microcontrollerwith 2K×15 bits of flash memory is used to control the system. One suchmicrocontroller is the HT67F30, which is commercially available fromHoltek Semiconductor Inc.

A car battery reverse sensor 10 monitors the polarity of the vehiclebattery 72 when the handheld battery booster device is connected to thevehicle's electric system. As explained below, the booster deviceprevents the lithium battery pack from being connected to the vehiclebattery 72 when the terminals of the battery 72 are connected to thewrong terminals of the booster device. A car battery isolation sensor 12detects whether or not a vehicle battery 72 is connected to the boosterdevice, and prevents the lithium battery pack from being connected tothe output terminals of the booster device unless there is a good (e.g.chargeable) battery connected to the output terminals.

A smart switch FET circuit 15 electrically switches the handheld batterybooster lithium battery to the vehicle's electric system only when thevehicle battery is determined by the MCU 1 to be present (in response toa detection signal provided by isolation sensor 12) and connected withthe correct polarity (in response to a detection signal provided byreverse sensor 10). A lithium battery temperature sensor 20 monitors thetemperature of the lithium battery pack 32 to detect overheating due tohigh ambient temperature conditions and overextended current draw duringjump starting. A lithium battery voltage measurement circuit 24 monitorsthe voltage of the lithium battery pack 32 to prevent the voltagepotential from rising too high during a charging operation and fromdropping too low during a discharge operation.

Lithium battery back-charge protection diodes 28 prevent any chargecurrent being delivered to the vehicle battery 72 from flowing back tothe lithium battery pack 32 from the vehicle's electrical system.Flashlight LED circuit 36 is provided to furnish a flashlight functionfor enhancing light under a vehicle's hood in dark conditions, as wellas providing SOS and strobe lighting functions for safety purposes whena vehicle may be disabled in a potentially dangerous location. Voltageregulator 42 provides regulation of internal operating voltage for themicrocontroller and sensors. On/Off manual mode and flashlight switches46 allow the user to control power-on for the handheld battery boosterdevice, to control manual override operation if the vehicle has nobattery, and to control the flashlight function. The manual buttonfunctions only when the booster device is powered on. This button allowsthe user to jump-start vehicles that have either a missing battery, orthe battery voltage is so low that automatic detection by the MCU is notpossible. When the user presses and holds the manual override button fora predetermined period time (such as three seconds) to preventinadvertent actuation of the manual mode, the internal lithium ionbattery power is switched to the vehicle battery connect port. The onlyexception to the manual override is if the car battery is connected inreverse. If the car battery is connected in reverse, the internallithium battery power shall never be switched to the vehicle batteryconnect port.

USB charge circuit 52 converts power from any USB charger power source,to charge voltage and current for charging the lithium battery pack 32.USB output 56 provides a USB portable charger for charging smartphones,tablets, and other rechargeable electronic devices. Operation indicatorLEDs 60 provides visual indication of lithium battery capacity status aswell as an indication of smart switch activation status (indicating thatpower is being provided to the vehicle's electrical system).

Detailed operation of the handheld booster device will now be describedwith reference to the schematic diagrams of FIGS. 2A-2C. As shown inFIG. 2A, the microcontroller unit 1 is the center of all inputs andoutputs. The reverse battery sensor 10 comprises an optically coupledisolator phototransistor (4N27) connected to the terminals of vehiclebattery 72 at input pins 1 and 2 with a diode D8 in the lead conductorof pin 1 (associated with the negative terminal CB−), such that if thebattery 72 is connected to the terminals of the booster device with thecorrect polarity, the optocoupler LED 11 will not conduct current, andis therefore turned off, providing a “1” or high output signal to theMCU 1. The car battery isolation sensor 12 comprises an opticallycoupled isolator phototransistor (4N27) connected to the terminals ofvehicle battery 72 at input pins 1 and 2 with a diode D7 in the leadconductor of pin 1 (associated with the positive terminal CB+), suchthat if the battery 72 is connected to the terminals of the boosterdevice with the correct polarity, the optocoupler LED 11A will conductcurrent, and is therefore turned on, providing a “0” or low outputsignal to the MCU, indicating the presence of a battery across thejumper output terminals of the handheld booster device.

If the car battery 72 is connected to the handheld booster device withreverse polarity, the optocoupler LED 11 of the reverse sensor 10 willconduct current, providing a “0” or low signal to microcontroller unit1. Further, if no battery is connected to the handheld booster device,the optocoupler LED 11A of the isolation sensor 12 will not conductcurrent, and is therefore turned off, providing a “1” or high outputsignal to the MCU, indicating the absence of any battery connected tothe handheld booster device. Using these specific inputs, themicrocontroller software of MCU 1 can determine when it is safe to turnon the smart switch FET 15, thereby connecting the lithium battery packto the jumper terminals of the booster device. Consequently, if the carbattery 72 either is not connected to the booster device at all, or isconnected with reverse polarity, the MCU 1 can keep the smart switch FET15 from being turned on, thus prevent sparking/short circuiting of thelithium battery pack.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the FET smart switch 15 is driven by an output ofthe microcontroller 1. The FET smart switch 15 includes three FETs (Q15,Q18, and Q19) in parallel, which spreads the distribution of power fromthe lithium battery pack over the FETs. When that microcontroller outputis driven to a logic low, FETs 16 are all in a high resistance state,therefore not allowing current to flow from the internal lithium Batterynegative contact 17 to the car battery 72 negative contact. When themicrocontroller output is driven to a logic high, the FETs 16 (Q15, Q18,and Q19) are in a low resistant state, allowing current to flow freelyfrom the internal lithium battery pack negative contact 17 (LB−) to thecar battery 72 negative contact (CB−). In this way, the microcontrollersoftware controls the connection of the internal lithium battery pack 32to the vehicle battery 72 for jumpstarting the car engine.

Referring back to FIG. 2A, the internal lithium battery pack voltage canbe accurately measured using circuit 24 and one of the analog-to-digitalinputs of the microcontroller 1. Circuit 24 is designed to sense whenthe main 3.3V regulator 42 voltage is on, and to turn on transistor 23when the voltage of regulator 42 is on. When transistor 23 isconducting, it turns on FET 22, thereby providing positive contact (LB+)of the internal lithium battery a conductive path to voltage divider 21allowing a lower voltage range to be brought to the microcontroller tobe read. Using this input, the microcontroller software can determine ifthe lithium battery voltage is too low during discharge operation or toohigh during charge operation, and take appropriate action to preventdamage to electronic components.

Still referring to FIG. 2A, the temperature of the internal lithiumbattery pack 32 can be accurately measured by two negative temperaturecoefficient (NTC) devices 20. These are devices that reduce theirresistance when their temperature rises. The circuit is a voltagedivider that brings the result to two analog-to-digital (A/D) inputs onthe microcontroller 1. The microcontroller software can then determinewhen the internal lithium battery is too hot to allow jumpstarting,adding safety to the design.

The main voltage regulator circuit 42 is designed to convert internallithium battery voltage to a regulated 3.3 volts that is utilized by themicrocontroller 1 as well as by other components of the booster devicefor internal operating power. Three lithium battery back chargeprotection diodes 28 (see FIG. 2B) are in place to allow current to flowonly from the internal lithium battery pack 32 to the car battery 72,and not from the car battery to the internal lithium battery. In thisway, if the car electrical system is charging from its alternator, itcannot back-charge (and thereby damage) the internal lithium battery,providing another level of safety. The main power on switch 46 (FIG. 2A)is a combination that allows for double pole, double throw operation sothat with one push, the product can be turned on if it is in the offstate, or turned off if it is in the on state. This circuit also uses amicrocontroller output 47 to “keep alive” the power when it is activatedby the on switch. When the switch is pressed the microcontroller turnsthis output to a high logic level to keep power on when the switch isreleased. In this way, the microcontroller maintains control of when thepower is turned off when the on/off switch is activated again or whenthe lithium battery voltage is getting too low. The microcontrollersoftware also includes a timer that turns the power off after apredefined period of time, (such as, e.g. 8 hours) if not used.

The flashlight LED circuit 45 shown in FIG. 2B controls the operation offlashlight LEDs. Two outputs from the microcontroller 1 are dedicated totwo separate LEDs. Thus, the LEDs can be independentlysoftware-controlled for strobe and SOS patterns, providing yet anothersafety feature to the booster device. LED indicators provide thefeedback the operator needs to understand what is happening with theproduct. Four separate LEDs 61 (FIG. 2A) are controlled by correspondingindividual outputs of microcontroller 1 to provide indication of theremaining capacity of the internal lithium battery. These LEDs arecontrolled in a “fuel gauge” type format with 25%, 50% 75% and 100%(red, red, yellow, green) capacity indications. An LED indicator 63(FIG. 2B) provides a visual warning to the user when the vehicle battery72 has been connected in reverse polarity. “Boost” and on/off LEDs 62provide visual indications when the booster device is provide jump-startpower, and when the booster device is turned on, respectively.

A USB output 56 circuit (FIG. 2C) is included to provide a USB outputfor charging portable electronic devices such as smartphones from theinternal lithium battery pack 32. Control circuit 57 from themicrocontroller 1 allows the USB output 56 to be turned on and off bysoftware control to prevent the internal lithium battery getting too lowin capacity. The USB output is brought to the outside of the device on astandard USB connector 58, which includes the standard voltage dividerrequired for enabling charge to certain smartphones that require it. TheUSB charge circuit 52 allows the internal lithium battery pack 32 to becharged using a standard USB charger. This charge input uses a standardmicro-USB connector 48 allowing standard cables to be used. The 5Vpotential provided from standard USB chargers is up-converted to the12.4 VDC voltage required for charging the internal lithium battery packusing a DC-DC converter 49. The DC-DC converter 49 can be turned on andoff via circuit 53 by an output from the microcontroller 1.

In this way, the microcontroller software can turn the charge off if thebattery voltage is measured to be too high by the ND input 22.Additional safety is provided for helping to eliminate overcharge to theinternal lithium battery using a lithium battery charge controller 50that provides charge balance to the internal lithium battery cells 51.This controller also provides safety redundancy for eliminating overdischarge of the internal lithium battery.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handheld device 300 in accordance withan exemplary embodiment of the invention. 301 is a power on switch. 302shows the LED “fuel gauge” indicators 61. 303 shows a 12 volt outputport connectable to a cable device 400, described further below. 304shows a flashlight control switch for activating flashlight LEDs 45. 305is a USB input port for charging the internal lithium battery, and 306is a USB output port for providing charge from the lithium battery toother portable devices such as smartphones, tablets, music players, etc.307 is a “boost on” indicator showing that power is being provided tothe 12V output port. 308 is a “reverse” indicator showing that thevehicle battery is improperly connected with respect to polarity. 309 isa “power on” indicator showing that the device is powered up foroperation.

FIG. 4 shows a jumper cable device 400 specifically designed for usewith the handheld device 300. Device 400 has a plug 401 configured toplug into 12 volt output port 303 of the handheld device 300. A pair ofcables 402 a and 402 b are integrated with the plug 401, and arerespectively connected to vehicle battery terminal connectors, forexample, battery terminal clamps 403 a and 403 b via ring terminals 404a and 404 b. The port 303 and plug 401 may be dimensioned so that theplug 401 will only fit into the port 303 in a specific orientation, thusensuring that clamp 403 a will correspond to positive polarity, andclamp 403 b will correspond to negative polarity, as indicated thereon.

Additionally, the ring terminals 404 a and 404 b may be disconnectedfrom the clamps and connected directly to the terminals of a vehiclebattery. This feature may be useful, for example, to permanently attachthe cables 302 a-302 b to the battery of a vehicle. In the event thatthe battery voltage becomes depleted, the handheld booster device 300could be properly connected to the battery very simply by plugging inthe plug 401 to the port 303.

Jump Starting Device with Battery Connection Device

Another jump starting apparatus or device 510 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.The battery jump starting device 510 comprises the electronic componentsor parts of the handheld battery booster apparatus shown in FIGS. 1-3and the handheld device 300 shown in FIG. 4, and described above, incombination with a battery connection device 600 according to thepresent invention.

The jump starting apparatus 510 comprises a casing 512 having a display514 provided with an arrangement of light emitting diodes (LEDs) 516a-d, as shown in FIG. 5.

The jump starting device 510 further comprises a positive cable 518having a positive clamp 520 and a negative cable 522 having a negativeclamp 524. The positive cable 518 and negative cable 522 pass throughopenings 512 a, 512 b, respectively, in the casing 512.

The clamps 520, 524 are stowed away or docked in an un-deployed mode byclamping each to a respective side posts 526 extending outwardly onopposite sides of the casing 512, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The sideposts 526 are shown in FIG. 8. The clamps 520, 524 are docked when thejump starting device 510 is in non-use, and then unclamped from the sidepost 526 during use.

The jump starting device 510 is configured to jump start a vehiclebattery. For example, the jump starting device 510 can be the PORTABLEVEHICLE JUMP START APPARATUS WITH SAFETY PROTECTION disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 9,007,015, which is fully incorporated herein by reference, ora device or apparatus similar thereto.

The jump starting device 510 comprises electrical components or partslocated inside the casing 512. For example, the jump starting device 510comprises a battery connector device 600 shown in FIGS. 7-13.

The battery connector device 600 comprises a battery assembly 610 havinga battery 612. For example, the battery 612 is a lithium-ionrechargeable type battery. The battery connector device 600 isconfigured to maximize conductivity from the battery 612 to the cables518, 522 and clamps 520, 524 of the jump starting device 510. Thebattery 612 comprises a battery casing 612 a, for example, arectangular-shaped battery casing 612 a.

The battery 612 comprises a positive tab or terminal at one end (e.g.width) of the battery 612, and a negative terminal tab or terminal at anopposite end (e.g. width) of the battery 612. For example, the battery612 comprises one or more battery cells each having a positive andnegative tab. For example, the positive tab or terminal from the batterycell(s) is located at the one end of the battery 612 and the negativetab or terminal from the battery cell(s) is located at the opposite endof the battery 612. A positive terminal conductor plate 614 is connected(e.g. soldered, welded, or sonically welded) at the one end of thebattery 612 to the positive tab (i.e. contact) or terminal of thebattery 612. The positive terminal conductor plate 614 extends along theone end (e.g. width) of the battery 612.

The positive cable 518 can be connected (e.g. directly connected bysoldering) to the positive terminal conductor plate 614 and/or thepositive tab of the battery 612. For example, the positive terminalconductor bar 614 can be provided with a conductive loop 616 wrappingaround (e.g. entirely wrapping around) and connected (e.g. crimpedand/or soldered) to an exposed conductor end 518 a of the positive cable518. For example, the positive terminal conductor plate 614 is made fromheavy gauge copper or aluminum sheet (e.g. machined, cut, or stampedtherefrom).

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the positive terminal conductor plate 614can be configured (e.g. bent) to wrap around one of the square-shapedcorners of the rectangular-shaped casing 612 a of the battery 612 (e.g.L-shaped). The L-shaped positive terminal conductor plate 614 can extendalong an end of the battery 612 and along at least a portion of the sideof the battery 612, as shown in FIG. 9.

The positive terminal conductor plate 614 can also be mechanicallycoupled and/or adhered to the outer surface of the battery casing 612 ato provide additional support and stability thereof (e.g. assembled tosurvive mechanical shock when drop testing the battery jump starterdevice 510). For example, the positive terminal conductor bar 614 can bemechanically connected to the battery casing 612 by adhesive (e.g.silicon adhesive), double sided tape, double sided foam tape, insulatedplastic or ceramic connector with snap fit connection and/or adhesiveconnection, and/or the battery casing 612 can be formed (e.g. molded) tomechanically connect (e.g. snap fit or interference connection) with thepositive terminal conductor plate 614.

The positive cable 518 can be a single piece of wire or a cable (e.g.twisted or braided wires) extending from the battery 612 to the positiveclamp 520. Specifically, one end of the positive cable 518 is connectedto the positive terminal conductor plate 614 connected to the battery612, and the opposite end of the positive cable 518 is connected to thepositive clamp 520.

More specifically, the positive cable 518 can comprise a flexible orbent cable portion 518 (FIG. 9) for changing the direction of thepositive cable 518 within the device casing 512. The positive cable 518can be fitted with a flexible outer sleeve portion 620 transitioninginto a flexible inner sleeve portion 622 to flexibly accommodate thepositive cable 518 passing through the device casing 512. The flexibleouter sleeve portion 620 is externally located relative to the devicecasing 512 of the battery jump starter device 510, and the flexibleinner sleeve portion 622 is internally located relative to the casing512 of the battery jump starter device 510.

The flexible outer sleeve portion 620 is configured to reinforce theconnection between the positive cable 518 and the device casing 512 ofthe jump starting device 510 while remaining flexible. For example, theflexible outer sleeve portion 620 is provided with one or more grooves618 a (e.g. three (3) grooves 624 shown in FIG. 9) exposing portions 518a of the positive cable 518. The one or more grooves 624 act as hingesto ease bending of the positive cable 518 within the flexible outersleeve portion 620.

The flexible sleeve 620 comprises an outer flange 624 spaced apart (e.g.a small distance equal to about a wall thickness of the device casing512 of the jump starting device 510) from an in inner flange 626. Theflanges 624, 626 further anchor the positive cable 518 to the devicecasing 512 of the jump starting device 510.

The flexible sleeve 620 comprises a sleeve portion 628 (FIG. 10)connecting together the outer flange 624 and inner flange 626. Forexample, the flexible outer sleeve portion 620 is molded or applied ontoand around the positive cable 518 as a single unit (e.g. the flexiblesleeve 620 is molded onto a portion of the positive cable 518 insertedwithin the mold during the molding process). Alternatively, the flexiblesleeve 620 is made (e.g. molded) separately, and then installed orassembled onto a portion of the positive cable 518.

The positive cable 518 comprises an inner conductor (e.g. single wireconductor, twisted wires, or braided wires) disposed within an outerinsulating sheath (e.g. extruded plastic sheath). The inner conductor,for example, can be a solid wire conductor or a multi-strand metal wireconductor comprising bundle of wires. The inner conductor can be made ofcopper or aluminum. The flexible sleeve 620 can be applied (e.g. moldedor installed or assembled) onto and surrounding the outer insulatingsheath of the positive cable 518.

The battery connector device 600 further comprises a negative terminalconductor plate 630 (FIG. 9) connected (e.g. soldered, welded, orsonically welded) at an opposite end of the battery 612 to the negativetab or terminal (i.e. contact) of the battery 612. The negative terminalconductor plate 630 can extend along the opposite end of the battery612.

The other end of the negative terminal conductor plate 630 is providedwith a negative terminal conductor plate connector portion 632, as shownin FIGS. 9 and 10. The negative terminal conductor plate 630 can beconfigured to wrap around one of the corners of the rectangular-shapedbattery 612 (e.g. L-shaped). The L-shaped negative terminal conductorplate 630 can extend along an end of the battery 612 and along at leasta portion of the side of the battery 612, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

The negative terminal conductor bar 630 can also be mechanically coupledand/or adhered to the outer surface of the battery casing 612 a toprovide additional support and stability thereof (e.g. to survivemechanical shock when drop testing the battery jump starter device 510).For example, the negative terminal conductor bar 614 can be mechanicallyconnected to the battery casing 612 a by adhesive (e.g. siliconadhesive), double sided tape, double sided foam tape, insulating plasticor ceramic connector with snap fit connection and/or adhesiveconnection, and/or the battery casing 612 can be formed (e.g. molded) tomechanically connect (e.g. snap fit or interference connection) with thepositive terminal conductor plate 614.

The battery connector device 600 further comprises a smart switchbattery interface 634. The smart switch battery interface 634 comprisesa relay printed circuit board (PCB) 636 having a first circuit boardconductor bar 638 spaced apart from a second circuit board conductor bar640 located on one side of the circuit board 636, as shown in FIGS. 9and 10.

A pair of relays 642 are mounted on an opposite side of the circuitboard 636. The relays 642 include relay anchoring pins 642 a located inthrough holes 636 a in the relay printed circuit board 636 (FIGS. 9 and11). The relays 642 further comprise relay connector pins 642 bextending through the through holes 636 b provided in the circuit board636 and slots 638 a provided in the first conductor bar 638. The relays642 even further comprise relay connector pins 642 c located in thethrough holes 636 c provided in the circuit board 636 and through holes640 a provided in the second conductor bar 640. The relay anchoring pins636 a are soldered in place to mechanically connect the relays 642 tothe circuit board 636. The relay connecting pins 642 b and 642 c aresoldered in place to mechanically and electrically connect the relays642, respectively, to the circuit board conductor plates 638, 640.

The through holes 636 a in the circuit board 636 are rectangular-shaped(FIGS. 9 and 11) and accommodate the relay anchoring pins 642 a.Specifically, a base portion of the relay anchoring pins 642 a arerectangular-shaped with square-shaped ends. The square-shaped ends aredimensionally less wide verses the base portions creating transverseedges oriented flush with the outer surface of the circuit board 636.When solder is applied to the exposed ends of the relay anchoring pins642 a, the solder connects to the sides of the square-shaped ends andtransverse edges to anchor and lock the relay anchoring pins to thecircuit board 636.

The slots 632 a provided in negative terminal conductor bar connectorportion 632 are rectangular-shaped and the through holes 638 a in thefirst circuit board conductor bar 638 (FIG. 7) are T-shaped toaccommodate the three (3) horizontally oriented relay connector pins 642b, as shown in FIG. 7. The ends of the relay connector pins 642 b areshown flush with the outer surface of the negative terminal conductorbar connector portion 632. When solder is applied to the exposed ends ofthe relay connector pins 642 b, the solder fills in the slots 632 a inthe negative terminal conductor bar connector portion 632 and thethrough holes 638 a of the first circuit board conductor bar 638, andconnects the sides of the connector pins 642 b with inner edges of theslots 632 a and through holes 638 a to anchoring the relays 642 to thecircuit board 636 and negative terminal conductor bar connector portion632. This applied solder also electrically connects the negativeterminal conductor bar connector portion 632 to the first circuit boardconductor bar 638.

The through holes 640 a provided in the second circuit board conductorbar 640 are T-shaped to accommodate the three (3) vertically orientedrelay connecting pins 642 b, as shown in FIG. 7. The relay connectorprongs 640 a extend outwardly from the outer surface of the circuitboard 636 to connect with the exposed conductor end 644 a of thenegative cable 644, and shown in FIG. 11. When solder is applied to theexposed conductor end 644 a and the ends of the relay connector prongs640 a, the solder fills in the T-shaped slot and electrically connectsthe relay connector prongs 640 a, second circuit board conductor 640,and exposed conductor end 644 a of the negative cable 644.

The negative terminal conductor bar connector portion 632 of thenegative terminal conductor bar 630 is connected (e.g. by soldering) tothe first circuit board conductor bar 638 of the circuit board 636. Theexposed conductor end 522 a (i.e. with the insulating sheath removed) ofthe negative cable 522 is connected (e.g. by soldering) to the secondcircuit board conductor bar 640, as shown in FIG. 13.

The battery connector device 600 can be modified by providing thepositive cable 518 with a diode connection 650, as shown in FIG. 14. Forexample, a diode connection 650 is installed (e.g. spliced) into thepositive cable 518. The diode connection 650 comprises a diode printedcircuit board (PCB) 652 provided with a set of back-charge diodes 654(e.g. Schottky diodes) located on one side thereof, and a conductor bar656 provided on an opposite side of the circuit board 652.

Assembly

The jump starting device 510 comprises the device casing 512 having anupper casing portion 512 a and a lower casing portion 512 b, as shown inFIG. 15. The upper casing portion 512 a and the lower casing portion 512b are configured to be connected together when assembling the jumpstarting device 510.

The jump starting device 510 further comprises the battery connectiondevice 600 and controller assembly 710 both disposed within the casing512. The controller assembly 710 comprises a circuit board 712 locatedadjacent to another circuit board 714.

The positive terminal of the battery assembly 610 (FIG. 15) is connectedto the circuit board 712 via a positive power wire 716. For example, oneend of the positive power wire 716 is soldered to the positive terminalconductor bar 614 (FIG. 9) and the opposite end is soldered to thecircuit board 712. The negative terminal of the battery assembly 610 isconnected to the circuit board 714 via a negative power wire 718. Forexample, one end of the negative power wire 718 is soldered to thenegative terminal conductor bar 630 (FIG. 9) and the opposite end issolder to the circuit board 714.

The relay circuit board 636 is provided with a wire set 720 having aconnector 722 (FIGS. 14 and 15). The connector 722 is configured toconnect with the relay board connector 722 located on the circuit board712 of the controller assembly 710 during assembly of the battery jumpstarting device 510.

The battery assembly 610 further comprises a wire set 726 having aconnector 728. The connector 728 is configured to connect with thebattery cell charging/monitoring connector 728 located on the circuitboard 712 of the controller assembly 710.

The battery assembly 610 also comprises a battery temperature sensorhaving a wire set 732 (FIG. 16) having a connector 734. The connector734 is configured to connect with the temperature sensor connector 736located on the circuit board 712 of the controller assembly 720.

The circuit board 712 is provided with in charge power resistors and anout relay. Further, the lower casing portion 512 a is provided with amain user out connector 744 having a wire set 746 connected to the maincircuit board 714, and a main user in connector 748 having a wire set750 connected to the circuit board 714.

The battery assembly 610 is connected to jump starting device 510, asshown in FIG. 15. The battery connector device 610 is installed withinthe device casing 512 of the jump starting device 510 when assembled.

Enhanced Conductivity Battery Connector Device

An enhanced conductivity battery connector device 900 is shown in FIGS.17-29. The enhanced conductivity battery connector device 900 provides asignificantly increased conductivity compared to the battery connectordevice 600, as shown in FIGS. 9-16.

The amount of power to be conducted from the battery 912 to the batteryterminal clamps connected to a vehicle battery of a vehicle to be jumpstarted can be enhanced as follows:

1) Increase Wire Gauge

-   -   For example, change the 4AWG (American Wire Gage) positive cable        518 and change the negative cable 522 (FIG. 13) to a 2AWG        positive cable 818 and negative cable 822 (FIG. 19).

2) Increase Conductivity of Negative Cable Connection

-   -   For example, the negative cable conductor end 822 a (FIGS. 18        and 19) connection to the relays is extended all the way across        the connector pins 922 c of the relays 922.

3) Increase Conductivity of Positive Cable Connection

-   -   For example, the positive battery tab 914 is lengthened so that        the inner conductor 818 a of the positive cable 818 is rolled up        (FIGS. 21-26) within the positive battery tab 914 and soldered        together thoroughly;

4) Increase Conductivity of Diode Connection

-   -   For example, the diode connection 650 (FIG. 14) is replaced with        the diode connection 950 (FIG. 27);

5) Redesign Resistor/Diode Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

-   -   For example, the diode printed circuit board (PCB) 652 (FIG. 14)        is replaced with the diode printed circuit board (PCB) 952 (FIG.        27); and

6) Reconnect Resistors

-   -   For example, the resistors R134A&B, R135A&B located on the diode        printed circuit board (PCB) 652 (FIG. 14) is reconnected again.

A detailed description of each of these enhanced conductivity featuresor arrangement is set forth below.

1) Increase Wire Gauge

The gauge of the positive cable 518 and negative cable 522 (FIG. 13),for example, can be increased from 4AWG (American Wire Gage) cable to a2AWG cable for positive cable 818 and negative cable 822 (FIGS. 17-19).The comparative specifications of the 4AWG cable and 2AWG cable are asfollows:

2AWG 4AWG Diameter 0.2576 in 0.2294 in (6.544 mm) (5.189 mm) Turns ofwire 3.88/in 4.89/in (1.53/cm) (1.93/cm) Area 66.4 kcmil 41.7 kcmil(33.6 mm²) (21.2 mm²) Resistance/length 0.5127 mQ/m 0.8152 mQ/m (0.1563mQ/ft) (0.2485 mQ/m) Ampacity 95 (60° C.) 70 (60° C.) 115 (75° C.) 85(75° C.) 130 (90° C.) 95 (90° C.) Fusing current 1.3 kA (10 s) 946 A (10s) 10.2 kA (1 s) 6.4 kA (1 s) 57 kA (32 ms) 36 kA (32 ms)

The 2AWG cable provides a significant increase of conductivity (i.e.ampacity) compared to the 4AWG cable (i.e. approximately 36% increase).

2) Increase Conductivity of Negative Cable Connection

The negative cable 822 (FIG. 19) can be connected to the battery 912(FIG. 17) in a manner to increase the conductivity (i.e. ampacity)between the battery 912 and negative cable 822. For example, thenegative cable conductor end 822 a can be directly connected (e.g.soldered) to the connector prongs 942 c (FIG. 19) of the relays 942.Specifically, the negative cable conductor end 822 a can extend acrossand directly connect to all relays 942 (e.g. like relays 642) of thesmart switch battery interface 934 (FIGS. 18 and 19). Further, thenegative cable conductor end 822 a can be connected to the conductorloop 941 (FIG. 19) of the circuit board conductor bar 940.

The negative cable 822, for example, can be made of stranded wirecomprising an inner electrical wire conductor composed of an untwistedor twisted bundle of wires disposed within an outer electricalinsulating sheath. The electrical insulating sheath of the negativecable 822 can be removed from the negative cable end exposing the innerconductor end 822 a.

The exposed bundle of wires 822 d (FIG. 18) of the inner conductor 822 acan be forced over the ends of the exposed connector pins 942 c of therelays 942 so that strands of wires 822 d are captured between theadjacent connector pins 942 c. The exposed bundles of wires 832 d can befurther forced into contact with the conductor bar 940 (e.g. made ofcopper). Solder 923 is applied to this assembly so that the solder flowsbetween the exposed bundles of wires 922 d to the connector pins 942 cand the conductor bar 940 to complete the electrical connection betweenthe negative cable 322 and the smart switch battery interface 934connected to the battery 912.

The length of the exposed bundle of wires 822 d is selected so thatexposed bundle of wires 822 d directly connects with each set ofconnector pins 942 c of each and every relay 942 to provide the maximumelectrical conductivity (i.e. maximum ampacity) between the negativecable 822 and the battery 912.

3) Increase Conductivity of Positive Cable Connection

The positive cable 818 can be connected to the battery 912 in a mannerto increase the conductivity (i.e. ampacity) between the battery 912 andpositive cable 818. For example, the positive cable 818 can be rolled upin the positive battery tab 914 of the battery 912 and soldered togetherthoroughly. The steps for connection between the positive cable 818 andthe positive battery tab 914 of the battery 912 is shown in FIGS. 22-26.

The positive cable 818, for example, can be made of stranded wirecomprising an inner electrical wire conductor composed of an untwistedor twisted bundle of wires disposed within an outer electricalinsulating sheath. The electrical insulating sheath of the positivecable 818 can be removed from the positive cable conductor end 818 aexposing the inner conductor end 818 a.

The battery 912 is provided with a positive battery tab 914. Thepositive battery tab 914 is a metal sheet (e.g. copper sheet) connectedto the positive terminal tab 914 of the battery 912.

The exposed bundle of wires 818 d of the inner electrical conductor 818b can be soldered with tin, and then rolled up within the positivebattery tab 812 a. Solder 915 (FIG. 25) is applied to the exposed bundleof wires 818 d and the positive battery tab 812 a.

The length of the exposed bundle of wires of the positive cableconductor end 818 a is selected so that exposed bundle of wires directlyconnects with the full width of the positive battery tab 914 to providethe maximum electrical conductivity (i.e. maximum ampacity) between thebattery 712 and the positive cable 718.

4) Increase Conductivity of Diode Connection

The positive cable 818 can be provided with a diode connection 950configured to increase the conductivity along the positive cable 818, asshown in FIGS. 27-29.

The diode connection 950 comprises a plurality of diodes 954 connectedbetween positive cable sections 818 a and 818 f (FIG. 29). For example,the diode connection 950 comprises six (6) back-charge type diodes (e.g.Schottky barrier diodes).

The diodes 954 are soldered between the positive cable conductor ends818 b and 818 b. Specifically, the diode conductor tabs 954 a aresoldered to the upper positive cable conductor end 818 b and the diodeconductor prongs 954 b are soldered to the positive cable conductor end818 b. More specifically, the diode conductor prongs 954 b of the diodes954 extend through the diode circuit board 952, extend into the bundleof wires of the lower positive cable conductor end 818 b, and then aresoldered in place completing assembly of the diode connection 950.

The diode connection 950 is then insulated, for example, using a shrinkwrap insulator 955 (FIG. 29), which is applied around the diodeconnection 950, and then shrunk by applying heat (e.g. using heat gun).

5) Redesigned Resistor/Diode Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

For example, the resistor/diode PCB are redesigned to eliminate thediodes extending therefrom;

6) Reconnected Resistors

For example, the resistors R134A&B, R135A&B that are on theResistor/Diode printed circuit board (PCB) 952 are reconnected to beconnected again.

Test #1

The battery connection device 600 shown in FIG. 13 was subjected to a1250A

Load Test. The results are shown in FIG. 30, and as follows:

Pulse #1 Average Power of 4799.01 W Pulse #2 Average Power of 5528.99 WPulse #3 Average Power of 6101.63 W

Test #2

The battery connection device 900 shown in FIG. 17 was subjected to a1250A Load Test. The results are shown in FIG. 31, and as follows:

Pulse #1 Average Power of 6584.61 W Pulse #2 Average Power of 7149.60 WPulse #3 Average Power of 7325.91 W

These test results show a significant increase of approximately twentypercent (20%) for peak power for TEST #2 compared to the results of TEST#1.

Another enhanced conductivity battery conductor device 1000 is shown inFIGS. 32-41. The enhanced conductivity battery connector device 1000provides a significantly increased conductivity compared to the batteryconnector device 600 shown in FIGS. 9-14.

The battery conductor device 1000 comprises the battery assembly 1010,including the battery 1012 connected to the positive cable 1018 and thenegative terminal conductor plate 1030. A positive wire 1019 isconnected directly or indirectly to the positive tab or positive cable1018 of the battery 1012, and a negative wire 1023 is connected directlyor indirectly to the negative tab or negative terminal conductor plate1030. The battery conductor device 1000 can further include a bundle ofwires 1070 connected to or associated with the operation of the battery1012 (e.g. battery temperature sensor, power supply, etc.).

The battery 1012 can comprise a single battery cell 1012 c (FIG. 34), ormultiple battery cells 1012 c connected end-to-end in series. Forexample, three (3) separate battery cells 1012 c have respective tabs512 d to be connected together (FIG. 33).

The battery cells 1012 c each have respective positive and negative tabs1012 d located at opposite ends of each battery cell 1012 c. The batterycells 1012 c are connected together in series by welding (e.g. sonicallyand/or thermally welding) and/or soldering respective positive andnegative tabs 1012 d together. For example, the tabs 1012 d arepositioned so as to overlap each other (e.g. edges overlapping oppositetab 1012 d, or edge-to-edge).

The tabs 1012 d are metal plates (e.g. relative thin metal foils)extending outwardly from the body and opposite edges of each batterycell 1012 c. As shown in FIG. 34, the positive and negative tabs 1012 dextend along opposite edges along the width dimension of each batterycell 1012 c. The positive and negative tabs 1012 d are each centered andextend most of the width dimension of each opposite edge of each batterycell 1012 c.

As shown in FIG. 33, a separate tab 1012 e is added or connected to theright side of the battery cell 1012 c (i.e. battery cell on right sidein FIG. 33) to extend the length of the tab 1012 d. The separate tab1012 e is shown as having the same width dimension as the tab 1012 d;however, this width can be different. To assemble the separate tab 1012e to the tab 1012 d, for example, the separate tab 1012 e is positionedto overlap over the tab 1012 d, and then welded (e.g. sonically and/orthermally welded) and/or soldered together.

The exposed conductor end of the positive cable 1018 is then wound upinside the separate tab, as shown in FIGS. 35 and 37. For example, theinitially flat separate tab 1012 e is wrapped around the exposedconductor end of the positive cable 1018, and then connected to theexposed end by welding (e.g. sonically and/or thermally welding) and/orsoldering. For example, a layer of solder is applied to one or bothsides of the separate tab 1012 e, and then after wrapping the separatetab 1012 e around the exposed end of the positive wire 1018, theassembly is heated to melt the layered solder and solder the assemblytogether.

The three (3) battery cells 1012 c once connected together are thenfolded over each other into the layered battery cell arrangement shownin FIG. 36. The layered battery cell arrangement can be packaged (e.g.the three (3) battery cells can be taped or shrink wrapped together), orplaced within a battery cover or casing 1012, as shown in FIG. 38.

As shown in FIG. 38, the negative tab 1012 d can be attached to thenegative terminal conductor plate 1030. For example, the negative tab1012 d can be wrapped partially or fully, as shown, around the negativeterminal conductor plate 1030. The negative tab 1012 d can be providedwith a plurality of through holes 1012 f to facilitate welding and/orsoldering the negative tab 1012 d to the negative terminal conductorplate 1030. For example, the through holes 1012 f can be square-shapedthrough holes arranged into a matrix, as shown in FIG. 39. The negativewire 1023 is shown connected (e.g. soldered) to the negative tab 1012 d.

Another separate tab 1012 e (see FIG. 33) can be connected to thenegative tab 1012 d to lengthen the negative tab 1012 d, so that thelengthened negative tab can be wrapped or wound around the negativeterminal conductor plate 1030 more than one time (e.g. 2, 3, 4, or moretimes). In this manner, the electrical connection between the negativetab 1012 d and the negative terminal conductor plate 1030 can beenhanced. The separate tab 1012 e can be provided with a layer of solderon one or both sides, so that after the separate tab 1012 e is wrappedor wound around the negative terminal conductor plate 1030, thisassembly can be heated up to solder the separate tab 1012 e onto thenegative terminal conductor plate 1030.

The completed assembly of the battery conductor device 1000 with theconnected separate positive tab 1012 e ready to be wrapped or wound anexposed conductor end of the positive cable 1018 (FIG. 32) can be seenin FIG. 39. The bundle of wires 1070 shown in FIG. 39, includes wires1072 for a temperature sensor embedded within the battery 1012 (e.g.temperature sensor located near battery tab or between battery cells.).The temperature sensor 1074 connected between two (2) wires 1072 a and1072 b is shown in FIG. 40.

The battery conductor device 1000 can be connected to the positive cable1018 provided with a diode connector 1050 connected inline or spliceinto the positive cable 1018, as shown in FIG. 41.

The diode connector 1050 comprises a diode circuit board 1052 having aplurality of diodes 1054 assembled thereon. The diodes 1054 each have adiode conductor tab 1054 a connected (e.g. soldered) to an exposedconductor end of the positive cable 1018. The prongs of the diodes 1054extend through holes in the diode circuit board 1052, and are solderedto both the conductive traces and the exposed conductor end of thepositive cable 1018 along with a resistor 1076 to complete the assembly.

The invention having been thus described, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the same may be varied in many ways withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention. Any and all suchvariations are intended to be encompassed within the scope of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A jump starting apparatus for jump starting a vehicle having a vehicle battery with a positive terminal and negative terminal, the apparatus comprising: an internal power supply; a positive battery cable having a positive battery terminal connector; a negative battery cable having a negative battery terminal connector; a vehicle battery isolation sensor connected in circuit with said positive battery terminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector, the vehicle battery isolation sensor configured to detect a presence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive battery terminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector; a reverse polarity sensor connected in circuit with the positive battery terminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector, the reverse polarity sensor configured to detect a polarity of the vehicle battery connected between the positive battery terminal connector and negative battery terminal connector and to provide an output signal indicating whether the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the vehicle battery are properly connected with the positive battery terminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector; a power switch connected between the internal power supply and an output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehicle battery; and a microcontroller configured to receive input signals from the vehicle isolation sensor and the reverse polarity sensor, and to provide an output signal to the power switch such that the power switch is turned on to cause the internal power supply to be connected to the vehicle battery in response to signals from the sensors indicating the presence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive battery terminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector and a proper polarity connection of positive terminal and the negative terminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and the negative terminal connector, and is not turned on when signals from the sensors indicate either the absence of the vehicle battery connected between the positive battery terminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector or an improper polarity connection of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the vehicle battery with the positive battery terminal connector and the negative battery terminal connector.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehicle battery is provided by the connection between the positive battery terminal connector and the positive terminal of the vehicle battery and the connection between the negative battery terminal connector and the negative terminal of the vehicle battery.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positive battery terminal connector is a positive battery clamp releasably connectable to the positive terminal of the vehicle battery, and wherein the negative battery terminal connector is a negative battery clamp releasably connectable to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positive battery terminal connector is a positive ring terminal connected to an end of the positive battery cable and configured to connect with a positive battery clamp connectable to the positive terminal of the vehicle battery or directly to the positive terminal itself of the vehicle battery, and wherein the negative battery terminal connector is a negative ring terminal connected to an end of the negative battery cable and configured to connect with a negative battery clamp connectable to the negative terminal of the vehicle battery or directly to the negative terminal itself of the vehicle battery.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the internal power supply comprises a rechargeable battery.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the lithium ion battery comprises a battery pack of multiple lithium ion batteries.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power switch is a FET switch.
 8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the FET switch comprises a plurality of FETs in parallel.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle isolation sensor and reverse polarity sensor comprise optically coupled isolator phototransistors.
 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of power diodes coupled between the output of the jump starting apparatus to the vehicle battery and the internal power supply to prevent back-charging of said internal power supply from an electrical system connected to said output port.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor configured to detect temperature of said internal power supply and to provide a temperature signal to said microcontroller.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage measurement circuit configured to measure output voltage of said internal power supply and to provide a voltage measurement signal to said microcontroller.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a voltage regulator configured to convert output voltage of said internal power supply to a voltage level appropriate to provide operating power to internal components of the apparatus.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a manual override switch configured to activate a manual override mode to enable a user to connect jump start power to said output port when said vehicle battery isolation sensor is unable to detect presence of a vehicle battery.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said microcontroller is configured to detect actuation of said manual override switch for at least a predetermined period of time before activation of said manual override mode.
 16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the positive battery cable and negative battery cable together form a jumper cable device comprising a plug connected to one of the cables and configured to plug into an output port on the battery jump starting apparatus.
 17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said output port and said plug are dimensioned so that the plug will fit into the output port only in one specific orientation.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the rechargeable battery comprises at least one battery cell having a positive tab and a negative tab, wherein the positive battery cable has a conductor connected to the positive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery; and wherein the negative tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery is connected to a negative terminal conductor bar.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a separate tab connected to the positive tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery to extend a length of the positive tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery.
 20. The device according to claim 19, wherein the separate tab is connected to the positive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery, and wherein the separate tab wraps around and connects to the conductor of the positive cable.
 21. The device according to claim 18, wherein the positive tab wraps around and connects to the conductor of the positive cable.
 22. The device according to claim 18, wherein the negative tab wraps around the negative conductor bar to electrically connect the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery to the negative conductor bar.
 23. The device according to claim 18, wherein the conductor of the positive cable is soldered to the positive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery and the negative terminal conductor bar is soldered to the negative tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery.
 24. The device according to claim 18, wherein the rechargeable battery is rectangular-shaped, and the negative terminal conductor bar is L-shaped and wraps around a respective corner of the rechargeable battery.
 25. The device according to claim 18, wherein the positive tab and the negative tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery extend from opposite sides of the rechargeable battery.
 26. The device according to claim 18, wherein the positive tab and negative tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery extend along opposite edges along a width of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery.
 27. The device according to claim 19, wherein the separate tab has a same width as the positive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery.
 28. The device according to claim 19, wherein the separate tab overlaps the positive tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery.
 29. The device according to claim 19, further comprising another separate tab connected to the negative tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery to extend a length of the negative tab of the at least one cell of the rechargeable battery.
 30. The device according to claim 29, wherein the another separate tab wraps more than one time around the negative conductor bar to enhance the electrical connection between the negative conductor bar and the negative tab of the at least one battery cell of the rechargeable battery. 